Vegan remedies for that time of the month...

If you're a woman, or just an empathetic man, then you understand the emotional and physical strife that comes along with menstrual cycles each month. Cramps, bloating, mood swings... most women experience symptoms of PMS and I am definitely no exception.

I recently discovered that I have PMDD along with PMS. For those of you who don't know, PMS stands for Premenstrual Syndrome which is essentially bloating, tiredness, mood swings, food cravings, etc. that occur either before or during a menstrual cycle. PMDD, on the other hand stands for Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder which is a severe extension of PMS.

Over the past year, along with the normal cramping and tenderness I'd normally get during my period, I started to get overly sensitive. I'd either have fits of rage or fits of sadness. I'd get extremely offended over the smallest things and it started to get debilitating. I couldn't talk to anyone because I knew I would react in a way that would make me seem crazy but I couldn't control it. I felt every emotion throughout my entire body and I wasn't in control of those emotions at all. This definitely didn't fly with me, so I started to look for remedies to help ease my PMS and PMDD symptoms.
Women's Teas
Traditional Medicinals have an entire range of teas made especially for women. Those teas include PMS Tea, Healthy Cycle, Pregnancy Tea, Back on Tract, Mother's Milk, and Weightless. I decided to give their PMS Tea a try and though I couldn't see any immediate results after drinking, the act of having a cup of tea is always a great experience so I'd definitely try to drink this tea more when I have my period. I'm also eager to try their other Healthy Cycle tea.

Chamomile Tea
When it comes to de-stressing, chamomile tea is always my go-to. I recently doubled the de-stressing ingredients and tried Traditional Medicinal's Chamomile Tea with Lavender. I absolutely love this tea and I might even say it's my new favorite tea.


PMS Bites
PMS Bites are little balls of healthy chocolate made especially for women who are experiencing PMS. These chocolatey bites are not only a mental remedy, but they also claim to help with the physical symptoms of PMS. You can subscribe to these vegan bites to the exact day you want them delivered monthly so you can experience the deliciousness each period. I tried the variety pack and received two bites of each flavor in Plain Crazy, CocoNutty, and All Kinds of Nuts. They're all honestly super tasty, but I think I might like CocoNutty the most, which is surprising considering I'm not coconut's biggest fan.

Spot Check Blemish Stick
Fluctuating hormone levels are usually always accompanied by pimples, or at least for me anyway. I can always expect a new spot on my face the day I get my period, so I always make sure to use my favorite spot stick from Fanciful Fox. This blemish stick is magic. Whenever I use this stick on a pimple, I know for a fact that the spot will be completely gone within 3 days. Magic.

Yes To Miracle Oil PrimRose Oil Mud Mask
Not only is prim rose oil incredible for treating PMS symptoms when ingested, it's also incredible for your skin in the form of serums, masks, etc. Whenever I'm on my period, I feel extremely fatigued and it's always nice to have a little pick-me-up in the form of a mud mask. Yes To's PrimRose Oil Mud Mask is calming and soothing (exactly like the packaging says), which is exactly what I need when I'm looking for a pick-me-up.